Global body urges amendment to the missing bill

Kathmandu, November 24:

The International Commission of Jurists today urged the Constituent Assembly members to amend the Person Disappearance (Crime and Punishment) bill to address the problem of impunity. Writing a letter to the Chairman of the CA, director of the Asia-Pacific Programme of ICJ, Roger Normand asked him to re-draft the bill so that it complied with international standards. The international jurists’ body has called to establish a credible, effective, impartial and independent commission of inquiry. Suggesting the parliament to define the crimes against humanity, the ICJ stated that the bill failed to mention that the widespread and systematic practice of forced disappearances was a ‘crime against humanity’, as explicitly recognised internationally, including in the International Criminal Court.

The international lawyer’s body stated that the time limit to prosecute the guilty was too short. The ICJ also recommends that the authorities should prosecute the army official in civilian courts, amending the statute.